Systems and methods for latency sensitive links

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein includes a system, a method, and a device for providing latency sensitive links. A wireless device can receive, from a wireless node, an advertisement message indicating a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) links that support one or more defined latency requirements, a capability of the wireless node to support the set of WLAN links, a plurality of parameters, an operating mode, and a status for the set of WLAN links. The wireless device can send, to the wireless node responsive to the advertisement message, a request to access a first link of the set of WLAN links. The request can indicate a capability of the wireless device to interoperate with the wireless node to use the first link. The wireless device can access the first link of the set of WLAN links if the wireless node accepts the request to access the first link.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 asa continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.17/121,200, filed on Dec. 14, 2020, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/989,412, filed Mar. 13, 2020,which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to communications, includingbut not limited to providing latency sensitive links by an access point(AP) to one or more station (STA) devices.

BACKGROUND

Artificial reality such as a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality(AR), or a mixed reality (MR) provides immersive experience to a user.In one example, a user wearing a head wearable display (HWD) can turnthe user's head, and an image of a virtual object corresponding to alocation of the HWD and a gaze direction of the user can be displayed onthe HWD to allow the user to feel as if the user is moving within aspace of an artificial reality (e.g., a VR space, an AR space, or a MRspace). In one implementation, an image of a virtual object is generatedby a console communicatively coupled or tethered to the HWD. In somesetups, the console may have access to a wireless network and the HWDaccesses the network via the console device.

SUMMARY

Devices, systems and methods for providing latency sensitive links aredescribed herein. In some embodiments, a wireless node (e.g., accesspoint (AP)) can provide differing levels of service for multi-leveloperations by dedicating one or more links for latency sensitive trafficto meet the requirements of latency sensitive applications. The latencysensitive applications can include, but are not limited to, augmentedreality (AR) applications and virtual reality (VR) applications. Thewireless node can configure the links having parameters designed to meetthe requests or requirements of the latency sensitive applications. Thewireless node can configure a subset of links having the parameterscorresponding to latency sensitive link capabilities and can advertisethe latency sensitive link capabilities to one or more wireless devices(e.g., plurality of station devices (STAs)). The wireless node candetermine to accept or grant admission to one or more of the latencysensitive links based in part on the capabilities of the requestingwireless devices (e.g., station device, client device) and/or propertiesof network traffic associated with the respective wireless device. Insome embodiments, the wireless node can use latency sensitive linkcapabilities, link admission and link steering techniques to provide andmaintain a desired or targeted quality of service for latency sensitiveapplications.

In at least one aspect, a method is provided. The method can includereceiving, by a wireless device from a wireless node, an advertisementmessage indicating a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) linksthat support one or more defined latency requirements, a capability ofthe wireless node to support the set of WLAN links, a plurality ofparameters for the set of WLAN links, an operating mode for the set ofWLAN links, and a status for the set of WLAN links. The method caninclude sending, by the wireless device to the wireless node responsiveto the advertisement message, a request to access a first link of theset of WLAN links. The request can indicate a capability of the wirelessdevice to interoperate with the wireless node to use the first link. Themethod can include accessing, by the wireless device, the first link ofthe set of WLAN links if the wireless node accepts the request to accessthe first link.

In some embodiments, the capability of the wireless node can include atleast one of: link admission, link steering or facilitating channelaccess, of one or more wireless devices. The method can includereceiving, by the wireless device from the wireless node, a responseaccepting or denying the wireless device access to the first link. Insome embodiments, the response can be based on at least a condition ofnetwork traffic associated with the wireless node. The method caninclude receiving, by the wireless device from the wireless node, anindication of a second link to transfer at least a portion of traffic ofthe wireless device, from the first link to the second link. Theindication can be responsive to a condition of network trafficassociated with the wireless node. The method can include accessing, bythe wireless device responsive to the indication, the second link tocommunicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wirelessdevice.

In some embodiments, the method can include receiving, by the wirelessdevice from the wireless node, an indication of a first plurality ofparameters of the plurality of parameters for a plurality of time slotsfor the set of WLAN links available for prioritized access. The methodcan include accessing, by the wireless device, the first link during afirst time slot of the plurality of time slots according to the firstplurality of parameters. The advertisement message can include at leastone of: a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.

In at least one aspect, a wireless device is provided. The wirelessdevice can include one or more processors configured to receive, from awireless node, an advertisement message indicating a set of wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) links that support one or more defined latencyrequirements, a capability of the wireless node to support the set ofWLAN links, a plurality of parameters for the set of WLAN links, anoperating mode for the set of WLAN links, and a status for the set ofWLAN links. The wireless device can include one or more processorsconfigured to send, to the wireless node responsive to the advertisementmessage, a request to access a first link of the set of WLAN links. Therequest can indicate a capability of the wireless device to interoperatewith the wireless node to use the first link. The wireless device caninclude one or more processors configured to access the first link ofthe set of WLAN links if the wireless node accepts the request to accessthe first link.

The capability of the wireless node can include at least one of: linkadmission, link steering or facilitating channel access, of one or morewireless devices. The wireless device can include one or more processorsconfigured to receive, from the wireless node, an indication of a secondlink to transfer at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device,from the first link to the second link. The indication can be responsiveto a condition of network traffic associated with the wireless node. Thewireless device can include one or more processors configured to access,responsive to the indication, the second link to communicate the atleast a portion of the traffic of the wireless device.

In some embodiments, the wireless device can include one or moreprocessors configured to receive, from the wireless node, a responseaccepting or denying the wireless device access to the first link. Theresponse can be based on at least a condition of network trafficassociated with the wireless node. The wireless device can include oneor more processors configured to receive, from the wireless node, anindication of a first plurality of parameters of the plurality ofparameters for a plurality of time slots for the set of WLAN linksavailable for prioritized access. The wireless device can include one ormore processors configured to access the first link during a first timeslot of the plurality of time slots according to the first plurality ofparameters. The advertisement message can include at least one of: abeacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.

In at least one aspect, a method is provided. The method can includeconfiguring, by a wireless node, a set of wireless local area network(WLAN) links to support one or more defined latency requirements. Themethod can include transmitting, by the wireless node to a plurality ofwireless devices, the advertisement message indicating the set of WLANlinks that support one or more defined latency requirements, acapability of the wireless node to support the set of WLAN links, aplurality of parameters for the set of WLAN links, an operating mode forthe set of WLAN links, and a status for the set of WLAN links. Themethod can include receiving, by the wireless node from a first wirelessdevice of the plurality of wireless devices responsive to theadvertisement message, a request to access a first link of the set ofWLAN links. The request can indicate a capability of the wireless deviceto interoperate with the wireless node to use the first link. Thewireless device can access the first link of the set of WLAN links ifthe wireless node accepts the request to access the first link.

In some embodiments, the capability of the wireless node can include atleast one of: link admission, link steering or facilitating channelaccess, of one or more wireless devices. The method can includetransmitting, by the wireless node to the first wireless device, aresponse accepting or denying the wireless device access to the firstlink. The response can be based on at least a condition of networktraffic associated with the wireless node. The method can includetransmitting, by the wireless node to the wireless device, an indicationof a second link to transfer at least a portion of traffic of thewireless device, from the first link to the second link, responsive to acondition of network traffic associated with the wireless node. Thewireless device can access, responsive to the indication, the secondlink to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of thewireless device.

The method can include determining, by the wireless node, a condition ofnetwork traffic of the set of WLAN links. The method can includedetermining, by the wireless node, that the wireless device is accessingthe first link and a second link of the set of WLAN links. The methodcan include determining, by the wireless node, not to transfer at leasta portion of traffic of the wireless device from the first link to thesecond link, responsive to determining that the wireless device isaccessing the second link. The method can include configuring, by thewireless node, a time interval into a plurality of time slots for theset of WLAN links having a first plurality of parameters of theplurality of parameters for prioritized access. The method can includetransmitting, by the wireless node to the wireless device, an indicationof the first plurality of parameters for the plurality of time slots forthe set of WLAN links. The wireless device can access the first linkduring a first time slot of the plurality of time slots according to thefirst plurality of parameters. The advertisement message can include atleast one of: a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.

In at least one aspect, a wireless node is provided. The wireless nodecan include one or more processors configured to configure a set ofwireless local area network (WLAN) links to support one or more definedlatency requirements. The wireless node can include one or moreprocessors configured to transmit, to a plurality of wireless devices,the advertisement message indicating the set of WLAN links that supportone or more defined latency requirements, a capability of the wirelessnode to support the set of WLAN links, a plurality of parameters for theset of WLAN links, an operating mode for the set of WLAN links, and astatus for the set of WLAN links. The wireless node can include one ormore processors configured to receive, from a first wireless device ofthe plurality of wireless devices responsive to the advertisementmessage, a request to access a first link of the set of WLAN links. Therequest can indicate a capability of the wireless device to interoperatewith the wireless node to use the first link. The wireless device canaccess the first link of the set of WLAN links if the wireless nodeaccepts the request to access the first link.

These and other aspects and implementations are discussed in detailbelow. The foregoing information and the following detailed descriptioninclude illustrative examples of various aspects and implementations,and provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature andcharacter of the claimed aspects and implementations. The drawingsprovide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspectsand implementations, and are incorporated in and constitute a part ofthis specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Likereference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate likeelements. For purposes of clarity, not every component can be labeled inevery drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for providing latency sensitive links,according to an example implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a head wearable display, according to an exampleimplementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting a wireless node advertising a plurality oflinks to wireless devices, according to an example implementation of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process or method for providinglatency sensitive links, according to an example implementation of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computing environment according to anexample implementation of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to techniquesfor providing differing levels of service for multi-level operations bydedicating one or more links for latency sensitive traffic to meet therequirements of latency sensitive applications. The links are configuredas latency sensitive links having parameters designed to meet therequests or requirements of latency sensitive applications. An accesspoint (AP) device can configure a subset of links having latencysensitive link capabilities and can advertise the latency sensitive linkcapabilities to a plurality of station devices (STAs). The access pointcan grant admission to one or more of the latency sensitive links basedin part on the capabilities of the requesting station device or clientdevice and/or properties of network traffic associated with the stationdevice or client device. The access point can use the latency sensitivelink capabilities, link admission and link steering techniques toprovide and maintain a desired or targeted quality of service forlatency sensitive applications.

Some applications (e.g., AR/VR applications) can be more sensitive tolatency issues when transmitting and receiving communications or data.The latency sensitive applications can include one or more downlink (DL)and/or one or more uplink (UL) streams having (pre)determinedparameters. The amount of traffic for the latency sensitive applicationscan vary from interval to interval. The streams may includecommunications that are bursty or periodic. The latency sensitiveapplications can have increased bandwidth requirements. However, presentcommunication protocols (e.g., WLAN protocols that are based on besteffort support schemes) may not support the needs of latency sensitivetraffic, for example, resulting in degraded/reduced user experience foran end user of the particular application.

The techniques described herein can provide differentiated quality ofservice over different links (e.g., wireless links) to meet the uniqueneeds of latency sensitive applications. In some embodiments, includingmulti-link operations (e.g., 802.11 multi-link operation), an accesspoint device (e.g., AP MLD) can offer differentiated quality of serviceover different wireless links. The access point device can configure asubset of links to provide the minimal/desired quality of service tomeet the requirements of latency sensitive applications. The subset oflinks can be referred to as latency sensitive links (LSL) and theservice provided through the latency sensitive links can be referred toas latency sensitive service (LSS). The latency sensitive links can beconfigured to have modified capability advertisement, link admission,link steering and/or channel access parameters to provide a latencysensitive application a requested or desired quality of service.

The access point device can configure the links having the latencysensitive capabilities (e.g., parameters) and can advertise the linkcapabilities to one or more station devices (e.g., non-AP devices). Thelink capabilities can be advertised in a beacon frame, probe responseframe and/or any other form of management frames containing capabilityinformation. The advertisement can include a per link indication (e.g.,LSL_enable) to indicate that a specific link is a latency sensitivelink. The station devices can use the link capability information tochoose or request a network and one or links to conduct communicationand enable a desired or target performance.

A client device can also indicate its capability of supporting latencysensitive link operations in a probe request, association request andany other form of management frames containing capability information(e.g., capability fields). The station device and/or client device cansupport latency sensitive link operations by providing, supporting orconfiguring a set of features or mechanisms that an access point deviceuses to provide latency sensitive service/support, including but notlimited to, link admission, link steering, and an enhanced channelaccess mechanism.

The access point device can determine or select link admission for oneor more station devices based in part on whether the respective stationdevice supports latency sensitive links or parameters associated withlatency sensitive links. During an association or admission period, theaccess point device can make a determination on whether a station devicesupports latency sensitive links based in part on a (reported)capability of the respective station device and network load informationassociated with the station device.

The access point device can use the capability field associated with thestation device to determine if the station device supports latencysensitive links. If the station device does not support latencysensitive links as indicated in its capability field, the access pointdevice can prevent or disable a link (e.g., prevent establishment of, oraccess to the link) between the access point device to the stationdevice. The access point device can monitor network load informationover a plurality of links associated with or used by the station devicethat supports latency service links and can make the determination onwhether to accept the station device to operate on a latency sensitivelink based in part on the properties of the network load informationassociated with the station device. In some embodiments, the accesspoint device can accept or deny a station device if an amount of networktraffic associated with the station device is above a traffic threshold,for example, to avoid congestion on the latency sensitive links andprovide the targeted quality of service. If a station device is deniedaccess to a latency sensitive link, the access point can provide accessto a regular link or non-latency sensitive link to maintain connectivityand deliver data transfer over the other links.

The access point device can steer or transfer communications or traffic(e.g., link steering) associated with one or more station devices toparticular links to maintain a desired or targeted quality of servicefor one or more latency sensitive links. After a connection isestablished between the access point device and a station device, theaccess point device continuously monitors the traffic load over thenetwork and the plurality of links associated with the access pointdevice. The access point device can invoke or perform link steeringtechniques to provide and maintain the advertised quality of service forthe plurality of links. For example, link steering can include a currentoperating link and a new operating link (e.g., not being used) and theaccess point device can determine to steer or send traffic associatedwith a particular station device based in part on the traffic loadassociated with the station device. The access point device can direct aportion or all traffic and communications with the station device to thenew operating link. In some embodiments, the selected portion of trafficand communications can include selected traffic streams and/ormanagement frames.

The access point can provide prioritized channel access to latencysensitive applications to provide or maintain a desired or targetedquality of service for one or more latency sensitive links. The accesspoint device can divide a medium time into slots having a determinedduration and select or configure a portion of the slots as prioritizedslots. The prioritized slots can be dedicated for latency sensitiveapplications and can have a different set of parameters as compared toparameters of the regular slots or non-prioritized slots. The accesspoint device can select a fixed interval composed of fixed butconfigurable number of slots to provide flexible scheduling and priorityaccess for certain types of latency sensitive traffic. In someembodiments, the access point device may use additional features toprovide the increased quality of service for latency sensitive linksincluding, but not limited to, limiting or controlling transmissionopportunities for all traffic including latency sensitive traffic andother forms of traffic.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a system 100 for providing latency sensitivelinks 110 is depicted. In brief overview, the system 100 can include awireless node 102 (e.g., access point) in communication with one or morewireless devices 150 (e.g., stations (STA)) through network 160. Thewireless devices 150 can contend for or request access to latencysensitive links 110 provided by the wireless node 102 to communicatewith the wireless node 102 and/or other wireless devices 150 for avariety of different transmissions including, but not limited to,downlink transmissions, uplink transmission and/or peer-to-peertransmissions. The wireless node 102 can provide one or more links 110dedicated for latency sensitive traffic to meet the requirements oflatency sensitive applications 152, augmented reality (AR) applicationsand/or virtual reality (VR) applications.

The wireless node 102 can include an access point (e.g., wireless accesspoint) to provide a wireless network 160 or connect one or more wirelessdevices 150 to a wireless network 160. In some embodiments, the wirelessnode 102 can include a networking hardware device to create a wirelessnetwork 160 or provide connections to a wireless network 160. In someembodiments, the wireless node 102 can project a Wi-Fi signal to adesignated area to create a wireless network 160 or provide connectionsto a wireless network 160. The wireless node 102 can connect to a routeror be provided as a component of a router for connecting one or morewireless devices 150 to the wireless network 160. The wireless network160 can include, but is not limited to a Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN)), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), aPersonal Area Network (PAN), company Intranet or the Internet through avariety of wireless or cellular connections. The wireless network 160can include a public network, private network or a combination of aprivate network and a public network.

The wireless node 102 can include or correspond to a console providingcontent of artificial reality to one or more wireless devices 150 (e.g.,head wearable display (HWD 150)). The wireless node 102 can determine aview within the space of the artificial reality corresponding to thedetected location and the gaze direction, and generate an imagedepicting the determined view. The wireless node 102 may provide theimage to a wireless device 150 (e.g., HWD) for rendering. In someembodiments, the system 100 can include or correspond to an artificialreality system environment that includes more, fewer, or differentcomponents than shown in FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, functionality ofone or more components of the artificial reality system environment 100can be distributed among the components in a different manner than isdescribed here. For example, some of the functionality of the wirelessdevice 150 (e.g., console) may be performed by one or more wirelessdevices (e.g., HWDs). For example, some of the functionality of thewireless devices 150 (e.g., HWD) may be performed by the wireless node102 (e.g., console).

The wireless node 102 can include a processor 104. The processor 104 caninclude any logic, circuitry and/or processing component (e.g., amicroprocessor) for pre-processing input data for the wireless node 102,and/or for post-processing output data for the wireless node 102. Theone or more processors 104 can provide logic, circuitry, processingcomponent and/or functionality for configuring, controlling and/ormanaging one or more operations of the wireless node 102. For instance,a processor 104 may receive data and metrics, including but not limitedto, capabilities 118, time slots 112, parameters 120 and/or latencyrequirements 122. In some embodiments, the processors 104 can include orcorrespond to a driver or host driver of the wireless node 102 toexecute or perform one or more portions of the processes or methods(e.g., method 400) described herein. The processor 104 can be the sameas or similar to processing units 516 described above with respect toFIG. 5 .

The wireless node 102 can include a storage device 106. The storagedevice 106 can include a static random access memory (SRAM) or any othertypes of memory, storage drive or storage register. The storage device106 can include a static random access memory (SRAM) or internal SRAM,internal to the wireless node 102. In some embodiments, the storagedevice 106 can be included within an integrated circuit of the wirelessnode 102. The storage device 106 can include a memory (e.g., memory,memory unit, storage device, etc.). The memory may include one or moredevices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage, etc.) forstoring data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating thevarious processes, layers and modules described in the presentdisclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory or non-volatilememory, and may include database components, object code components,script components, or any other type of information structure forsupporting the various activities and information structures describedin the present disclosure. According to an example embodiment, thememory is communicably connected to the processor 104 via a processingcircuit and includes computer code for executing (e.g., by theprocessing circuit and/or the processor) the one or more processes ormethods (e.g., method 400) described herein. In some embodiments, thestorage device 106 can include, be the same as or substantially similarto storage 518 of FIG. 5 . The wireless node 102 can include circuitry108. The circuitry 108 can be a component of or part of computing system514 described with respect to FIG. 5 . In some embodiments, thecircuitry 108 can include a processor to perform all of or parts ofmethod 400 described with respect to FIG. 4 .

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 is an electronic component ora combination of an electronic component (e.g., circuitry) and asoftware component that provides content to be rendered to one or morewireless devices 150. In one aspect, the wireless node 102 includes acommunication interface 115 and a content provider 116. These componentsmay operate together to determine a view (e.g., a FOV of the user) ofthe artificial reality corresponding to the location of a wirelessdevice 150 and the gaze direction of the user of the wireless device150, and can generate an image of the artificial reality correspondingto the determined view. In other embodiments, the wireless node 102includes more, fewer, or different components than shown in FIG. 1 . Insome embodiments, the wireless node 102 is integrated as part of thewireless device 150. In some embodiments, the communication interface115 is an electronic component or a combination of an electroniccomponent and a software component that communicates with the wirelessdevice 150. The communication interface 115 may be a counterpartcomponent to the communication interface 165 to communicate with acommunication interface 115 of the wireless node 102 through acommunication link (e.g., USB cable) or communication channel. Throughthe communication channel, the communication interface 115 may receivefrom the wireless device 150 sensor measurements indicating thedetermined location and orientation of the wireless device 150 and/orthe determined gaze direction of the user. Moreover, through thecommunication channel, the communication interface 115 may transmit tothe wireless device 150 data describing an image to be rendered.

The content provider 116 is a component that generates content to berendered according to the location and orientation of the wirelessdevice 150 and/or the gaze direction of the user of the wireless device150. In one aspect, the content provider 116 determines a view of theartificial reality according to the location and orientation of thewireless device 150 and/or the gaze direction of the user of thewireless device 150. For example, the content provider 116 maps thelocation of the wireless device 150 in a physical space to a locationwithin an artificial reality space, and determines a view of theartificial reality space along a direction corresponding to anorientation of the wireless device 150 and/or the gaze direction of theuser from the mapped location in the artificial reality space. Thecontent provider 116 may generate image data describing an image of thedetermined view of the artificial reality space, and transmit the imagedata to the wireless device 150 through the communication interface 115.In some embodiments, the content provider 116 generates metadataincluding motion vector information, depth information, edgeinformation, object information, etc., associated with the image, andtransmits the metadata with the image data to the wireless device 150through the communication interface 115. The content provider 116 mayencode the data describing the image, and can transmit the encoded datato the wireless device 150. In some embodiments, the content provider116 generates and provides the image to the wireless device 150periodically (e.g., every one second).

The wireless node 102 can provide access to one or more access links 110for one or more wireless devices 150 to perform DL transmission, ULtransmissions and/or peer-to-peer transmission. The links 110 can bemonitored and controlled using various timing mechanisms. For example,In some embodiments, the links 110 can monitored and managed based inpart on a time period that is divided or partition into a plurality oftime intervals. The time intervals can include fixed intervals orconfigurable intervals. The time intervals can be periodic intervalshaving the same duration. In some embodiments, the time intervals can beconfigurable intervals such that a first time interval has a differentduration from one or more other time intervals. The wireless node 102can divide or partition the time intervals into a plurality of timeslots 112. The time slots 112 can include fixed time slots orconfigurable time slots, for example, having properties determined basedin part on an amount of data to be communicated or transmitted. The timeslots 112 can be periodic time slots 112 having the same duration. Insome embodiments, the time slots 112 can have different durations suchthat a first time slot 112 has a different duration from one or moreother time slots 112.

The wireless node 102 can configure the time slots 112 having differentparameters 120 to provide prioritized access to a portion of the timeslots 112 and regular or non-prioritized access to a portion of the timeslots 112. For example, the wireless node 102 can configure a portion ofthe time slots having first parameters to provide prioritized access tothe time slots 112 for one or more wireless devices 150 and a portion ofthe time slots having second parameters 120 (e.g., default parameters)to provide non-prioritized access or regular access to the time slots112 for one or more wireless devices 150. The first parameters 120 andsecond parameters 120 can include or correspond to similar or the sameparameters but have different values to provide a different level ofaccess or quality of service using the respective channel. In someembodiments, a first parameter 120 can have a different value (e.g.,higher value, lower value) from a second parameter 120. The parameters120 can include, but are not limited to, enhanced distribution channelaccess (EDCA) parameters (e.g., prioritized EDCA), inter-frame spacingparameters (e.g., arbitrating inter-frame spacing (A-AIFS)), contentionwindow parameters, a parameter for a timer (e.g., back-off timerparameters), and any parameters associated with the network 160 and/orlinks 110 between the node 102 and one or more devices 150. In someembodiments, the parameters 120 can include or correspond to latencysensitive requirements 122. The latency sensitive requirements 122 caninclude, but are not limited to, bandwidth requirements, data rates,and/or traffic amount limits.

The wireless node 102 can configure the time slots 112 having firstparameters 120 to generate prioritized time slots 112, for example, forhigh latency application, AR applications and/or VR applicationsprovided by one or more wireless devices 150. The wireless node 102 canassign or allocate the prioritized time slots 112 to one or morewireless devices 150 based in part on requests 142 received from thewireless devices 150 in response to an advertisement 140 identifying theprioritized time slots 112 to the wireless devices 150. The wirelessnode 102 can include or provide capabilities 118 to support latencysensitive links 110. The capabilities 118 can include, but are notlimited to, capability advertisement, link admission, link steering,enhanced channel access and/or other mechanisms that provide latencysensitive applications a desired quality of service. The wireless node102 can use the capabilities to configure and monitor the latencysensitive links 110 and maintain a desired or targeted quality ofservice for latency sensitive applications.

The wireless node 102 can determine one or more traffic conditions 124of links 110 provided by the wireless node 102 and/or accessed by one ormore wireless devices 150. The traffic condition 124 can include orcorrespond to properties of traffic transmitted through one or morelinks 110, such as but not limited to, a type of traffic (e.g.,prioritized, non-prioritized, latency sensitive), a traffic amount, ortotal network load. In some embodiments, the traffic condition 124 caninclude a type of data transmitted between the wireless node 102 and thewireless devices 150. The traffic condition 124 can include data andinformation transmitted during DL operations, UL operations and/orpeer-to-peer communications. In some embodiments, the traffic condition124 can include different traffic types, such as but not limited to,prioritized traffic, non-prioritized traffic, traffic associated withlatency sensitive applications, AR applications and/or VR applications.

The wireless node 102 can generate an advertisement 140 to advertise oneor more latency sensitive links 110 (e.g., WLAN links) and acapabilities 118 of the wireless node 102. In some embodiments, theadvertisement 140 can identify one or more prioritized time slots 112for one or more latency sensitive links 110. The advertisement 140 caninclude a signal, a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.The advertisement 140 can include a data packet, command or set ofinstructions indicating the one or more latency sensitive links 110, thecapabilities 118 of the wireless node 102 and/or the parameters 120 ofone or more time slots 112. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102can generate the advertisement 140 to include a per link indications toidentify the set of links 110 out of a plurality of links 110 providedby the wireless node 102 configured as latency sensitive links 110having parameters 120 (e.g., settings or a configuration) designed tomeet the requests or requirements of latency sensitive applications. Insome embodiments, the wireless node 102 can generate the advertisement140 can include the first parameters 120 of the slots 112 indicatingprioritized access to the respective slots 112 and/or the advertisement140 can include second parameters 120 for regular or non-prioritizedaccess to the slots 112.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can generate a response 126indicating whether a request 142 for a link 110 was accepted or denied.The response 126 can include a signal, a beacon signal, a probe responseor an action frame. The response 126 can include a data packet, commandor set of instructions indicating if a request 142 for a link 110 wasaccepted or denied. In some embodiments, the response 126 can indicatethe reasons for denying the request 142, including but not limited to, adifference in capabilities 118, missing parameters, a traffic condition124 (e.g., network load on the link 110) and/or missing/unsupportedlatency requirements 122. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 cangenerate an indication 128 to indicate properties/configuration of alink 110, a link 110 to transfer traffic to, and/or an indication ofparameters 120 of a link 110. The indication 128 can include a datapacket, command or set of instructions. The indication can identify asecond link 110, new link 110 or other link 110 to transfer at least aportion of traffic of the wireless device 150 from. The indication 128can include parameters 120 for a plurality of time slots 112 for the setof WLAN links 110 available for prioritized access. In some embodiments,the indication 128 can include a per link indication 128 (e.g.,LSL_enable) to indicate that a specific link 110 is a latency sensitivelink out of a plurality of links 110 available. In some embodiments, thewireless node 102 can use a threshold 125 to monitor the trafficconditions 124 on one or more links 110. The threshold 125 can include alimit, traffic load limit and/or value indicating a condition of a link110. The threshold 125 can include a set of value(s) or range of valuesindicating an acceptable range. The wireless node 102 can assign athreshold 125 to a link 110 or to the set of links configured to supportlatency sensitive applications 152, for example, to maintain an intendedor desired quality of service through the respective links 110.

The wireless device 150 can include a station (STA) device having thecapability to use the 802.11 protocols. In some embodiments, thewireless device 150 can include a client device, head wearable device(HWD), computing system or WiFi device. In some embodiments, thewireless device 150 can be implemented, for example, as a wearablecomputing device (e.g., smart watch, smart eyeglasses, head wearabledisplay), smartphone, other mobile phone, device (e.g., consumerdevice), desktop computer, laptop computer, a virtual reality (VR) puck,a VR personal computer (PC), VR computing device, a head mounted device,or implemented with distributed computing devices. The wireless device150 can be implemented as, include, or be part of a head mounted display(HMD), head mounted device (HMD), head wearable device (HWD), head worndisplay (HWD) or head worn device (HWD). The wireless device 150 can beimplemented to provide VR, augmented reality (AR), and/or mixed reality(MR) experience to a user (e.g., wearing the display) of the wirelessdevice 150 or connected to the wireless device 150. In some embodiments,the wireless device 150 can include conventional, specialized or customcomputer components such as processors 104, a storage device 106, anetwork interface, a user input device, and/or a user output device. Insome embodiments, the wireless device 150 may include some elements ofthe HWD 150 shown in FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the wireless device150 can provide or host one or more applications 152 including latencysensitive applications 152. The applications 152 can include, but arenot limited to, a virtual reality (VR) application 152, an augmentedreality (AR) application 152, or a mixed reality (MR) application 152.

In some embodiments, the wireless device 150 (e.g., HWD) is anelectronic component that can be worn by a user and can present orprovide an artificial reality experience to the user. The wirelessdevice 150 may render one or more images, video, audio, or somecombination thereof to provide the artificial reality experience to theuser. In some embodiments, audio is presented via an external device(e.g., speakers and/or headphones) that receives audio information fromthe wireless device 150, the wireless node 102, or both, and presentsaudio based on the audio information. In some embodiments, the wirelessdevice 150 includes sensors 155, eye trackers 164, a communicationinterface 165, an image renderer 170, an electronic display 175, a lens180, and a compensator 185. These components may operate together todetect a location of the wireless device 150 and/or a gaze direction ofthe user wearing the wireless device 150, and render an image of a viewwithin the artificial reality corresponding to the detected location ofthe wireless device 150 and/or the gaze direction of the user. In otherembodiments, the wireless device 150 includes more, fewer, or differentcomponents than shown in FIG. 1 .

The wireless device 150 can include one or more processors 104. The oneor more processors 104 can include any logic, circuitry and/orprocessing component (e.g., a microprocessor) for pre-processing inputdata for transmissions to the wireless node 102 and/or another wirelessdevice 150, and/or for post-processing output data for the wireless node102 and/or wireless device 150. The one or more processors 104 canprovide logic, circuitry, processing component and/or functionality forconfiguring, controlling and/or managing one or more operations of thewireless device 150. For instance, a processor 104 may receive data andmetrics, including but not limited to, advertisements 140, capabilities118, time slots 112, and/or parameters 120. In some embodiments, theprocessors 104 can include or correspond to a driver or host driver ofthe wireless device 150 to execute or perform one or more portions ofthe processes or methods (e.g., method 400) described herein. Theprocessor 104 can be the same as or similar to processing units 516described above with respect to FIG. 5 .

The wireless device 150 can include a storage device 106. The storagedevice 106 can be designed or implemented to store, hold or maintain anytype or form of data associated with the wireless device 150. Forexample, the wireless device 150 can store data associated withadvertisements 140, capabilities 118, time slots 112, and/or parameters120. The storage device 106 can include a static random access memory(SRAM) or internal SRAM, internal to the wireless device 150. In someembodiments, the storage device 106 can be included within an integratedcircuit of the wireless device 150. The storage device 106 can include amemory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device, etc.). The memory mayinclude one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard diskstorage, etc.) for storing data and/or computer code for completing orfacilitating the various processes, layers and modules described in thepresent disclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory ornon-volatile memory, and may include database components, object codecomponents, script components, or any other type of informationstructure for supporting the various activities and informationstructures described in the present disclosure. According to an exampleembodiment, the memory is communicably connected to the processor 104via a processing circuit and includes computer code for executing (e.g.,by the processing circuit and/or the processor) the one or moreprocesses or methods (e.g., method 400) described herein. In someembodiments, the storage device 106 can include, be the same as orsubstantially similar to storage 518 of FIG. 5 . The wireless device 150can include circuitry 108. The circuitry 108 can be a component of orpart of computing system 514 described with respect to FIG. 5 . In someembodiments, the circuitry 108 can include a processor to perform all ofor parts of method 400 described with respect to FIG. 4 .

The wireless device 150 can generate a request 142 to an advertisement140. The request 142 can include a data packet, command, or set ofinstructions requesting access to one or more links 110 and/or timeslots 112, including prioritized time slots 112. The request 142 canindicate the capabilities 118 of the wireless device. The capabilities118 of the wireless device 150 can include, but are not limited to,broadcast/sending of capability advertisement, link admission, linksteering, enhanced channel access and/or other mechanisms that canprovide latency sensitive applications a desired quality of service. Thewireless device 150 can use the capabilities 118 to access latencysensitive links 110 and support or provide a targeted quality of servicefor latency sensitive applications 152. The request 142 can identify atleast one link 110 to access. The request 142 can identify (e.g.,for/with the link 110) a time slot 112, multiple time slots 112 (e.g.,contiguous time slots), a type of traffic (e.g., downlink (DL) traffic,uplink (UL) traffic, peer-to-peer traffic), types of applications 152(e.g., latency sensitive applications, AR/VR applications) associatedwith the wireless device 150 and/or an predicted amount or level oftraffic associated with the applications supported by the wirelessdevice 150.

In some embodiments, the sensors 155 include electronic components or acombination of electronic components and software components that detecta location and an orientation of the wireless device 150. Examples ofsensors 155 can include: one or more imaging sensors, one or moreaccelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, oranother suitable type of sensor that detects motion and/or location. Forexample, one or more accelerometers can measure translational movement(e.g., forward/back, up/down, left/right) and one or more gyroscopes canmeasure rotational movement (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll). In someembodiments, the sensors 155 detect the translational movement and therotational movement, and determine an orientation and location of thewireless device 150. In one aspect, the sensors 155 can detect thetranslational movement and the rotational movement with respect to aprevious orientation and location of the wireless device 150, anddetermine a new orientation and/or location of the wireless device 150by accumulating or integrating the detected translational movementand/or the rotational movement. Assuming for an example that thewireless device 150 is oriented in a direction 25 degrees from areference direction, in response to detecting that the wireless device150 has rotated 20 degrees, the sensors 155 may determine that thewireless device 150 now faces or is oriented in a direction 45 degreesfrom the reference direction. Assuming for another example that thewireless device 150 was located two feet away from a reference point ina first direction, in response to detecting that the wireless device 150has moved three feet in a second direction, the sensors 155 maydetermine that the wireless device 150 is now located at a vectormultiplication of the two feet in the first direction and the three feetin the second direction.

In some embodiments, the eye trackers 164 include electronic componentsor a combination of electronic components and software components thatdetermine a gaze direction of the user of the wireless device 150. Insome embodiments, the eye trackers 164 include two eye trackers, whereeach eye tracker 164 captures an image of a corresponding eye anddetermines a gaze direction of the eye. In one example, the eye tracker164 determines an angular rotation of the eye, a translation of the eye,a change in the torsion of the eye, and/or a change in shape of the eye,according to the captured image of the eye, and determines the relativegaze direction with respect to the wireless device 150, according to thedetermined angular rotation, translation and the change in the torsionof the eye. In one approach, the eye tracker 164 may shine or project apredetermined reference or structured pattern on a portion of the eye,and capture an image of the eye to analyze the pattern projected on theportion of the eye to determine a relative gaze direction of the eyewith respect to the wireless device 150. In some embodiments, the eyetrackers 164 incorporate the orientation of the wireless device 150 andthe relative gaze direction with respect to the wireless device 150 todetermine a gate direction of the user. Assuming for an example that thewireless device 150 is oriented at a direction 30 degrees from areference direction, and the relative gaze direction of the wirelessdevice 150 is −10 degrees (or 350 degrees) with respect to the wirelessdevice 150, the eye trackers 164 may determine that the gaze directionof the user is 20 degrees from the reference direction. In someembodiments, a user of the wireless device 150 can configure thewireless device 150 (e.g., via user settings) to enable or disable theeye trackers 164. In some embodiments, a user of the wireless device 150is prompted to enable or disable the eye trackers 164.

In some embodiments, the communication interface 165 includes anelectronic component or a combination of an electronic component and asoftware component that communicates with the wireless node 102. Thecommunication interface 165 may communicate with a communicationinterface 115 of the wireless node 102 through a communication link orcommunication channel. The communication channel may be a wireless link,a wired link, or both. Examples of the wireless link can include acellular communication link, a near field communication link, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, ultra wide bandwidth (UWB), or any other communicationwireless communication link. Examples of the wired link can include aUSB, Ethernet, Firewire, HDMI, or any wired communication link. In theembodiments, in which the wireless node 102 and the wireless device 150are implemented on a single system, the communication interface 165 maycommunicate with the wireless node 102 through a bus connection or aconductive trace. Through the communication channel, the communicationinterface 165 may transmit to the wireless node 102 sensor measurementsindicating the determined location of the wireless device 150 and thedetermined gaze direction of the user. Moreover, through thecommunication channel, the communication interface 165 may receive fromthe wireless node 102 sensor measurements indicating or corresponding toan image to be rendered.

In some embodiments, the image renderer 170 includes an electroniccomponent or a combination of an electronic component and a softwarecomponent that generates one or more images for display, for example,according to a change in view of the space of the artificial reality. Insome embodiments, the image renderer 170 is implemented as a processor(or a graphical processing unit (GPU)) that executes instructions toperform various functions described herein. The image renderer 170 mayreceive, through the communication interface 165, data describing animage to be rendered, and render the image through the electronicdisplay 175. In some embodiments, the data from the wireless node 102may be encoded, and the image renderer 170 may decode the data togenerate and render the image. In one aspect, the image renderer 170receives the encoded image from the wireless node 102, and decodes theencoded image, such that a communication bandwidth between the wirelessnode 102 and the wireless device 150 can be reduced. In one aspect, theprocess of detecting, by the wireless device 150, the location and theorientation of the wireless device 150 and/or the gaze direction of theuser wearing the wireless device 150, and generating and transmitting,by the wireless node 102, a high resolution image (e.g., 1920 by 1080pixels, or 2048 by 1152 pixels) corresponding to the detected locationand the gaze direction to the wireless device 150 may be computationallyexhaustive and may not be performed within a frame time (e.g., less than11 ms or 8 ms). In one aspect, the image renderer 170 generates one ormore images through a shading process and a reprojection process when animage from the wireless device 150 is not received within the frametime. For example, the shading process and the reprojection process maybe performed adaptively, according to a change in view of the space ofthe artificial reality.

In some embodiments, the electronic display 175 is an electroniccomponent that displays an image. The electronic display 175 may, forexample, be a liquid crystal display or an organic light emitting diodedisplay. The electronic display 175 may be a transparent display thatallows the user to see through. In some embodiments, when the wirelessdevice 150 is worn by a user, the electronic display 175 is locatedproximate (e.g., less than 3 inches) to the user's eyes. In one aspect,the electronic display 175 emits or projects light towards the user'seyes according to image generated by the image renderer 170.

In some embodiments, the lens 180 is a mechanical component that altersreceived light from the electronic display 175. The lens 180 may magnifythe light from the electronic display 175, and correct for optical errorassociated with the light. The lens 180 may be a Fresnel lens, a convexlens, a concave lens, a filter, or any suitable optical component thatalters the light from the electronic display 175. Through the lens 180,light from the electronic display 175 can reach the pupils, such thatthe user can see the image displayed by the electronic display 175,despite the close proximity of the electronic display 175 to the eyes.

In some embodiments, the compensator 185 includes an electroniccomponent or a combination of an electronic component and a softwarecomponent that performs compensation to compensate for any distortionsor aberrations. In one aspect, the lens 180 introduces opticalaberrations such as a chromatic aberration, a pin-cushion distortion,barrel distortion, etc. The compensator 185 may determine a compensation(e.g., predistortion) to apply to the image to be rendered from theimage renderer 170 to compensate for the distortions caused by the lens180, and apply the determined compensation to the image from the imagerenderer 170. The compensator 185 may provide the predistorted image tothe electronic display 175.

The wireless node 102 can provide or establish one or more links 110through the network 160 to one or more wireless devices 150. In someembodiments, the wireless device 150 can establish one or more links 110through the network 160 to the wireless node 102 and/or one or moreother wireless devices 150 (e.g., peer-to-peer transmissions). The links110 can include latency sensitive links 110 and regular or default links110. The latency sensitive links 110 can support latency sensitiveapplications and be configured having prioritized parameters 120. Insome embodiments, the latency sensitive links 110 can be configuredhaving capabilities 118. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 canuse the capabilities 118 to provide latency sensitive links 110. Theremaining links 110 or regular links 110 can be configured havingnon-prioritized parameters 120, regular parameters 20 or defaultparameters 120 that are different from the prioritized parameters 120.The links 110 can include, but are not limited to, a communicationchannel, primary link, connection (e.g., wireless connection), and/orsession (e.g., user and/or application session) established between thewireless node 102 and one or more wireless devices 150. The links 110can be established using a communication protocol, including but notlimited to, IEEE 802.11 based protocol, Bluetooth based protocol, UWBprotocol, WiFi based protocol or cellular based protocol. In oneembodiment, the links 110 include IEEE 802.11ay protocol or 802.11axprotocol. The wireless node 102 and wireless devices 150 can use thelinks 110 to perform a data transfer for downlink operations, uplinkoperations and/or peer-to-peer transmissions between two or morewireless devices 150. The wireless node 102 and wireless devices 150 canuse the links 110 to provide or support a full VR experience, ARexperience or MR experience for a user of a wireless device 150 or adevice (e.g., head wearable display) connected to a wireless device 150.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a HWD wireless device 150, in accordance with anexample embodiment. In some embodiments, the HWD wireless device 150includes a front rigid body 205 and a band 210. The front rigid body 205includes the electronic display 175 (not shown in FIG. 2 ), the lens 180(not shown in FIG. 2 ), the sensors 155, the eye trackers 164A, 164B,the communication interface 165, and the image renderer 170. In theembodiment shown by FIG. 2 , the sensors 155 are located within thefront rigid body 205, and may not visible to the user. In otherembodiments, the HWD wireless device 150 has a different configurationthan shown in FIG. 2 . For example, the image renderer 170, the eyetrackers 164A, 164B, and/or the sensors 155 may be in differentlocations than shown in FIG. 2 .

Now referring to FIG. 3 , a diagram 300 having a wireless node 102(e.g., access point) advertising a plurality of links 110 to a pluralityof wireless devices 150 is provided. The wireless node 102 can providemulti-link operation by offering different levels of quality of servicethrough different wireless links 110. A set, portion or subset of links110 provided by the wireless node 102 can be designated for orconfigured to meet the requirements of latency sensitive applications152, for example, for AR type applications and/or VR type applications.The wireless node 102 can configure a set of links 110 (e.g., portion ofall links, subset of all links) having different parameters 120 (e.g.,configurations) and capabilities 118 from a different set of links 110(e.g., portion of all links, subset of all links) provided through thewireless node 102. In some embodiments, the links 110 can be configuredas latency sensitive links 110 having parameters 120 designed to meetthe requests or requirements of latency sensitive applications.

The wireless node 102 can transmit an advertisement message 140 to thewireless devices 150 through a wireless network 160 to indicate thecapabilities 118 of the wireless node 102 and identify the links 110configured as latency sensitive links 110. The capabilities 118 of thewireless node 102 to support latency sensitive traffic can includecapability advertisement, link admission, link steering and/or enhancedchannel access parameters 120 (e.g., EDCA channel access). In someembodiments, the advertisement 140 can indicate capabilities 118 or acapability threshold that a wireless device 150 may include to supportand/or access a latency sensitive link 110. The advertisement 140 caninclude a beacon frame, probe response frame and/or other form ofmanagement frames containing capability information. In someembodiments, the advertisement 140 can include a per link indication toidentify the set of links 110 out of a plurality of links 110 providedby the wireless node 102 configured as latency sensitive links 110having parameters 120 designed to meet the requests or requirements oflatency sensitive applications.

The wireless devices 150 can receive the advertisement message 140 andcan determine the capabilities 118 of the wireless node 102. In someembodiments, the wireless devices 150 can determine if the respectivewireless device 150 supports or provides the same capabilities 118 asthe wireless node 102. For example, the wireless devices 150 candetermine if the respective wireless device 150 supports or providescapability advertisement, link admission, link steering and/or enhancedchannel access parameters 120 (e.g., EDCA channel access). One or moreof the wireless devices 150 can transmit a request 142 indicating thecapability 118 of the transmitting wireless device 150 and at least onelink 110 the wireless devices 150 requests access to. In someembodiments, a wireless device 150 can transmit a request 142 to accessa first link 110 of the set of latency sensitive links 110 (e.g., WLANlinks) advertised by the wireless node 102.

The wireless node 102 can receive a request 142 from one wireless device150 or multiple wireless devices 150. The wireless node 102 candetermine or select link admission for one or more wireless devices 150using the indicated capability 118 in the request 142 and based in parton whether the respective wireless device 150 supports latency sensitivelinks 110 or parameters 120 associated with latency sensitive links 110.In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can transmit or provide aresponse 126 to a request 142 from a wireless device 150 indicating ifthe wireless device 150 was admitted or allowed access to the requestedlink 110 or if the wireless device 150 was denied or prevented access tothe requested link 110.

The wireless devices that support latency sensitive links 110 can accessthe links 110 to communicate data, for example, for downlink operations,uplink operations, and peer-to-peer transmissions. The wireless node 102can monitor various network load information over the set of latencysensitive links 110, including but not limited to a traffic load andtraffic conditions on the links 110. In some embodiments, the load on alink 110 can be compared to a threshold to determine if the link 110 isoverloaded, congested or the amount/condition of traffic on the link 110is reducing a quality of service of the link 110 for an end user via thewireless device 150.

If the traffic on one or more links 110 exceeds a threshold, thewireless node 102 can perform link steering to reduce the load on thelink 110 and/or balance the load between multiple links 110. Forexample, the wireless node 102 can select a new link 110 to transfer allor a portion of the traffic on the overloaded link 110 to. In someembodiments, the wireless node 102 can determine the wireless device 150is connected to or given access to multiple latently sensitive links 110and the wireless node 102 can transfer all or a portion of the load fromthe overloaded link 110 to one or more of the other links 110 thewireless device 150 is connected to or given access to.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can provide prioritizedchannel access to the latency sensitive links 110 for latency sensitiveapplications 152 to maintain a desired or targeted quality of service.The wireless node 102 can divide a medium time of the links 110 intoslots 112 having a determined duration and select or configure a portionof the slots 112 as prioritized slots 112. The prioritized slots 112 canbe dedicated for latency sensitive applications and can have a differentset of parameters 120 as compared to parameters 120 of the regular slots112 or non-prioritized slots 112 for the set of links 110 provided bythe wireless node 102. The wireless node 102 may use additional featuresto provide the increased quality of service for latency sensitive links110 including, but not limited to, limiting or controlling transmissionopportunities for all/some traffic including latency sensitive trafficand other forms of traffic.

Now referring to FIG. 4 , a method 400 for providing latency sensitivelinks is provided. In brief overview, the method 400 can includeconfiguring links (402), transmitting an advertisement (404), receivinga request (406), determining to accept the request (408), preventingaccess to a link (410), accessing a link (412), monitoring one or morelinks (414), determining if a load is greater than a threshold (416),performing link steering (418), and/or accessing a second link (420).One or more of these operations may be performed by at least oneprocessor and/or circuitry (e.g., processor 104, circuitry 108).

At operation 402, and in some embodiments, a set of links 110 can beconfigured to support latency sensitive applications 152. In someembodiments, a wireless node 102 (e.g., access point) can configure aset of wireless local area network (WLAN) links 110 to support one ormore defined latency requirements 122. The wireless node 102 can providea plurality of links 110 for one or more wireless devices 150 (e.g.,STA, client devices) to communicate data for downlink operations, uplinkoperations, peer-to-peer communications and/or other types ofcommunications between the wireless node 102 and one or more wirelessdevices 150. A subset or portion of the links 110 can be configured aslatency sensitive links 110 having parameters 120 designed to meet therequests or requirements 122 of latency sensitive applications 152. Insome embodiments, the wireless node 102 can configure or providediffering levels of service for multi-level operations by dedicating oneor more links 110 for latency sensitive traffic and one or more links110 having default or regular parameters 120 for regular or non-latencysensitive traffic. In some embodiments including multi-link operations(e.g., 802.11 multi-link operation), the wireless node 102 (e.g., APMLD) can offer differentiated quality of service over different wirelesslinks 110.

The wireless node 102 can configure the set of links 110 based in parton the latency requirements 122 of applications, including but notlimited to, AR applications and/or VR applications. The links 110 caninclude or be referred to as latency sensitive links (LSL) and theservice provided through the latency sensitive links can be referred toas latency sensitive service (LSS). The wireless node 102 can configurethe latency sensitive links 110 by supporting/having/using modifiedcapability advertisement, link admission, link steering and channelaccess parameters 120 to provide a latency sensitive application 152 arequested or desired quality of service. The wireless node 102 canconfigure the latency sensitive links 110 by enabling additionalprotocols or features to support latency sensitive applications 152,including, but is not limited to, pEDCA for latency sensitive traffic.The selected parameters 120 can include the parameters of the selectedprotocol, default parameters 120 or parameters 120 generated to supportlatency sensitive traffic. In embodiments, a first portion or first setof links 110 can be configured having/supporting different parameters120 from a second portion or second set of links 110. The wireless node102 can configure the first portion or first set of links 110 havingfirst parameters 120 and configure the second portion or second set oflinks 110 having second parameters 120. The first parameters 120 can bedifferent from the second parameters 120. In some embodiments, values ofthe first parameters 120 can be different from values of the secondparameters 120 such that the first parameters meet the latencyrequirement 122 of latency sensitive applications 152.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can divide or partition links110 into a plurality of time slots 112 based in part on a determinedtime period. For example, the wireless node 102 can divide or partitionthe time period for a link 110 into a plurality of time intervals havinga determined duration. The time intervals can be of equal duration orlength. In some embodiments, one or more of the time intervals can be adifferent duration from one or more other time intervals. The wirelessnode 102 can configure, divide or partition the time intervals into aplurality of slots 112 (e.g., time slots 112). The time slots 112 canhave a determined duration or length. The duration of the time slots 112can be determined based in part on types of data transmission andcommunications between the wireless node 102 and one or more wirelessdevices 150 and/or one or more other wireless nodes 102, including butnot limited to, transmit opportunity properties and data frame exchangeproperties. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can select theduration of the time slots 112 to correspond to, align with or match atransmit opportunity (txop) level of granularity, for example, to belong enough to hold or contain one or more data frame exchanges. Thewireless node 102 can determine a duration of the time slots 112 tosupport downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions and/or peer-to-peertransmissions between one or more wireless devices 150. In someembodiments, the time slots 112 for a common or same time intervaland/or time period can be of equal duration or length. In someembodiments, one or more of the time slots 112 for a common or same timeinterval and/or time period can be a different duration from one or moreother time intervals.

The wireless node 102 can configure the time slots 112 having differentparameters 120. The wireless node 102 can configure one or more of thetime slots 112 having a first plurality of parameters 120 (e.g., firstparameters 120) and one or more time slots 112 having a second pluralityof parameters 120 (e.g., second parameters 120). The first parameters120 can include or correspond to prioritized parameters for prioritizedaccess to a respective slot 112. The wireless node 102 can configure aportion of the time slots 112 having first parameters 120 to provide amore predictable or reliable access to the respective time slots 112 forhigh latency applications, AR applications and/or VR applications. Thesecond parameters 120 can include or correspond to regular or defaultparameters for regular access to a respective slot 112.

The first parameters 120 can include enhanced distribution channelaccess (EDCA) parameters for prioritized access to a respective slot. Insome embodiments, the first parameters 120 and second parameters 120 caninclude a parameter of a time interval duration that includes one ormore of the slots 112, a parameter for slot duration, a parameter forcontention window, a parameter for a back-off timer or a parameter forinterframe spacing. In some embodiments, the first parameters 120 can bea different value from the second parameters 120. The wireless node 102can configure a portion of the time slots 112 having first parameters120 to support latency sensitive traffic, for example, associated withAR applications and/or VR applications. The latency sensitive trafficcan include or correspond to periodic and/or bursty traffic, and theamount of traffic can vary, for example, during downlink transmissionsor uplink transmission, or peer-to-peer transmissions. In someembodiments, the traffic may complete (e.g., complete DL, complete UL)prior to the end of a current service period (e.g., group of contiguoustime slots 112) or a single time slot 112. The wireless node 102 canassign and give priority access during prioritized time slots 112 tolatency sensitive traffic based in part on requests 142 received fromwireless devices and if the respective traffic completes prior to theend of a time slot 112, non-prioritized or regular traffic can accessthe remaining portion of the priority slot, e.g., to support multi-linkoperations and provide flexible scheduling.

The wireless node 102 can configure the prioritized time slots 112 tosupport or handle a certain range of traffic amount variations oflatency sensitive traffic (e.g., priority traffic) in each timeinterval. For example, an initial portion or beginning of a serviceperiod (or prioritized time slot 112) can be protected or configured totolerate small variations of time packets being ready to transmit (e.g.,from Application layer operation/triggering to wake-up time). Theservice period (or priority slot) can be protected or configured toapply second parameters 120 (e.g., A-AIFS) for non-prioritized orregular traffic and maintain default parameters for the non-prioritizedor regular traffic). The service period (or prioritized time slot 112)can be released (e.g., automatically) when the priority trafficcompletes.

At operation 404, and in some embodiments, an advertisement 140 can betransmitted. The wireless node 102 can transmit, to a plurality ofwireless devices 150, the advertisement message 140 indicating the setof WLAN links 110 that support one or more defined latency requirements122, a capability 118 of the wireless node 102 to support the set ofWLAN links 110, a plurality of parameters 120 for the set of WLAN links110, an operating mode for the set of WLAN links 110, and a status forthe set of WLAN links 110. The wireless node 102 can transmit theadvertisement 140 to each wireless device 150 in the network 160 and/orconnected to the wireless node 102. In some embodiments, the wirelessnode 102 can select one or more wireless devices 150 and transmit theadvertisement 140 to the selected wireless devices 150.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can configure the links 110having the latency sensitive capabilities 118 (e.g., parameters 120) andadvertise the link capabilities 118 to one or more wireless devices 150(e.g., STA devices, non-AP devices). The wireless devices 150 canreceive the advertisement 140 indicating and/or identifying the set oflinks 110 out of a plurality of links 110 provided by the wireless nodethat support one or more defined latency requirements 122 and thecapability 118 of the wireless node 102 to support the set of links 110.The advertisement 140 can be transmitted as a beacon signal, a proberesponse, an action frame and/or any other form of management framescontaining capability information. In some embodiments, theadvertisement 140 can include a per link indication 128 (e.g.,LSL_enable) to indicate that a specific link 110 is a latency sensitivelink out of a plurality of links 110 that are available. The wirelessdevices 150 can use the capability information 118 to choose or requesta network 160 and one or links 110 to conduct communication and enable adesired or target performance.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can transmit or broadcast theadvertisement 140 to indicate the parameters 120 (e.g., protocolconfiguration parameters) of time slots 112 for the latency sensitivelinks 110. The advertisement 140 can include first parameters 120 of theslots 112 indicating prioritized access to the respective slots 112and/or the advertisement 140 can include second parameters 120 forregular or non-prioritized access to the slots 112. In some embodiments,the parameters 120 can a duration (e.g., length in terms of time) of atime interval, a duration (e.g., length in terms of time) of one or moreslots 112, enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameters,inter-frame spacing parameters (e.g., arbitrating inter-frame spacing(A-AIFS)), contention window parameters, a parameter for a back-offtimer, and any parameters associated with the network 160 and/or links110 between the node 102 and one or more devices 150. In someembodiments, the parameters 120 can indicate priority EDCA (pEDCA), forexample, configured for latency sensitive traffic. The advertisement 140can indicate an operating mode and/or status of the latency sensitivelinks 110. The operating mode can include an indication of how a link110 is configured, a current status of the respective link 110, link 110properties, an indication of how the network is configured, a currentnetwork status and/or network 160 properties. The status can includeslot 112 assignments, a current slot status, and an indication of whichslots 112 are assigned to which devices 150.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can transmit a messageindicating a second plurality of time slots 112 for non-prioritizedaccess to communicate data to the wireless node 102 and/or betweenwireless devices 150 through one or more of the links 110. The wirelessdevices 150 can receive, from the wireless node 102, a messageindicating the second plurality of time slots 112 for non-prioritizedaccess to communicate data. The second plurality of time slots 112 ornon-prioritized time slots 112 can be associated with a second pluralityof parameters 120 different from the first plurality of parameters 120.In some embodiments, the second plurality of time slots 112 ornon-prioritized time slots 112 can be configured having the secondplurality of parameters 120 or default parameters 120.

At operation 406, and in some embodiments, a request 142 can bereceived. The wireless node 102 can receive, from a first wirelessdevice 150 of the plurality of wireless devices 150 responsive to theadvertisement message 140, a request 142 to access a first link 110 ofthe set of WLAN links 110. The request can indicate the capability 118of the wireless device 150 to interoperate with the wireless node 102 touse the first link 110. In some embodiments, one or more wirelessdevices 150 can send, to the wireless node 102 responsive to theadvertisement message 140, a request 142 to access a first link 110 orone or more links 110 of the set of WLAN links 110. The requests 142 canindicate the capability of respective the wireless devices 150 tointeroperate with the wireless node 102 to use the first link 110. Insome embodiments, the wireless devices 150 (e.g., STA devices, clientdevices) can support latency sensitive link operations by providing,supporting or configuring a set of features or mechanisms that thewireless node 102 (e.g., access point) uses to provide latency sensitiveservice, including but not limited to, link admission, link steering,and an enhanced channel access mechanism. The wireless device 150 canselect a first link 110 or multiple links 110 to request access to andtransmit the request 142 indicating the selected links 110. The wirelessdevice 150 (e.g., STA, client device) can indicate its capability ofsupporting latency sensitive link operations in a probe request 142,association request 142 and any other form of management framescontaining capability information (e.g., capability fields). Thewireless device 150 can include in the request 142 the parameters 120and/or latency requirements 122 of the link 110 that the respectivewireless device 150 supports. In some embodiments, the request 142 caninclude an identifier for the requesting wireless device 150. Therequest 142 can identify or indicate one or more traffic conditions 124,a type of traffic (e.g., downlink (DL) traffic, uplink (UL) traffic,peer-to-peer traffic), types of applications 152 (e.g., latencysensitive applications, AR applications, VR applications) associatedwith the wireless device 150 and/or an estimated amount or level oftraffic associated with the applications 152 supported by the wirelessdevice 150. The wireless device 150 can transmit the request 142 to thewireless node 102, for example, through one or more links 110 to thewireless node 102 over the network 160. In some embodiments, thewireless device 150 can establish a connection or communication channelto the wireless node 102 responsive to receiving the advertisement andto transmit the request 142.

At operation 408, and in some embodiments, a determination can be madeto accept the request 142 or deny the request 142. The wireless node 102can determine or select link admission for one or more wireless devices150 based in part on whether the respective wireless device 150 supportslatency sensitive links 110, parameters 120 associated with latencysensitive links and/or latency requirements 122. The wireless node 102can receive the request 142 for the first link 110 and/or a plurality ofrequests 142 from a plurality of wireless devices 150 and perform anassociation or admission operation to determine to accept or the denythe request requests 142. In some embodiments, during the association oradmission period, the wireless node 102 can make the determination onwhether a wireless device 150 supports latency sensitive links 110 basedin part on a capability 118 of the respective wireless device andnetwork load information (e.g., amount of traffic per application 152,total amount of traffic) associated with the wireless device 150.

The wireless node 102 can identify or determine the capabilities 118 ofa wireless device 150 based in part on a capability field associatedincluded with a request 142 and/or associated with a wireless device 150to determine if the wireless device 150 supports latency sensitive links110. For example, In some embodiments, if the wireless device 150 doesnot support latency sensitive links 110 as indicated in its capabilityfield, the wireless node 102 can prevent or disable a link 110 betweenthe wireless node 102 and the wireless device 150. In some embodiments,the wireless node 102 can compare the capabilities 118 of a requestingwireless device 150 to the advertised capabilities 118 of the requestedlink 110 to determine whether to accept or deny a request 142. Forexample, the wireless node 102 can compare the capabilities 118 of awireless device 150 as indicated in a received request 142 to theadvertised capabilities 118 of the advertised link 110.

In some embodiments, if capabilities 118 of the wireless device 150 aredifferent from (e.g., less than, greater than) or outside a tolerancethreshold (e.g., numerical threshold, percentage threshold, thresholdrange of acceptable values) of the advertised capabilities 118 of therequested link 110, the wireless node 102 can deny the request 142, andthe method can move/proceed to (410). In one embodiment, if a requestingwireless device 150 does not support each of the capabilities 118 (e.g.,link admission, link steering, parameters 120, EDCA channel accessparameters 120, load traffic amounts) of a requested link 110 or lessthan all of the advertised capabilities 118, the wireless node 102 candeny the request 142, and the method can move/proceed to (410).

In some embodiments, if capabilities 118 of the wireless device 150 arethe same (e.g., same values, same parameters 120) as or within atolerance threshold (e.g., numerical threshold, percentage threshold,threshold range of acceptable values, acceptable number of capabilitiesin common) of the advertised capabilities 118 of the requested link 110,the wireless node 102 can accept the request 142, and the method canmove/proceed to (412). In one embodiment, if a requesting wirelessdevice 150 supports each of the capabilities 118 (e.g., link admission,link steering, parameters 120, EDCA channel access parameters 120, loadtraffic amounts) of a requested link 110, the wireless node 102 canaccept the request 142, and the method can move/proceed to (412).

At operation 410, and in some embodiments, a request 142 can be denied.The wireless node 102 can deny or prevent a wireless device 150 fromaccessing a requested link 110 based in part on the wireless device 150not supporting the capabilities 118 of the requested link 110 and/or thewireless device 150 having one more capabilities 118 different from thecapabilities 118 of the requested link 110. In some embodiments, thewireless node 102 can deny or prevent a wireless device 150 fromaccessing a requested link 110 based in part on a traffic condition 124(e.g., type, level or amount of traffic) associated with the wirelessdevice 150, for example, that may cause the requested link 110 to exceeda traffic threshold or reduce a quality of service parameters 120 of therequested link 110 if the wireless device 150 accesses the requestedlink 110. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can disable accessto a link 110 in response to determining the wireless device 150 doesnot support the latency sensitive link 110 and/or the capabilities 1148of the latency sensitive link 110. In some embodiments, the wirelessnode 102 can disable access to the a link 110 in response to determiningthat the wireless device 150 does not meet a criterion of using the link110, such as the wireless device 150 carrying a certain type of trafficwith latency requirements within a certain level. The wireless node 102can identify at least one active link 110 between the wireless node 102and the wireless device 150 and determine that the link 110 is a latencysensitive link 110. The wireless node 102 can disable the link 110between the wireless node 102 and the wireless device 150. In someembodiments, the wireless node 102 can transmit a response to thewireless device 150 denying the wireless device 150 access to the firstlink 110 or requested link 110. The response 126 can be based on atleast a condition of network traffic 124 associated with the wirelessnode 102 or wireless device 150. In some embodiments, the response 126can indicate the reasons for the denying the request 142, including butnot limited to, a difference in capabilities 118, missing parameters, atraffic condition 124, failure to meet a criteria, and/or missinglatency requirements 122.

At operation 412, and in some embodiments, the link 110 can be accessed.The wireless device 150 can access the first link 110 of the set of WLANlinks 110 if the wireless node 102 accepts the request 142 to access thefirst link 110. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can transmita response 126 to the wireless device 150 accepting the wireless device150 access to the first link 110 or requested link 110. The wirelessdevice 150 can access the first link 110 according to the capabilities118 advertised for the link 110 to support one or more high latencyapplications 152 provided by the wireless device 150. The wirelessdevice 150 can access the first link 110 using the parameters 120 and/orlatency requirements 122 indicated for the link 110. In someembodiments, the wireless device 150 can perform downlink operations,uplink operations and/or peer-to-peer transmissions using the first link110 and the according to the parameters 120 of the first link 110. Thewireless device 150 can transmit, receive and/or communicate trafficassociated with AR/VR type applications or latency sensitiveapplications using the first link 110.

In some embodiments, the wireless device 150 can access the first link110 according the parameters 120 configured for the first link 110,including but not limited to, channel access parameters 120, EDCAparameters, prioritized contention window parameters (e.g., size),and/or prioritized alternate inter-frame spacing parameters. Thewireless device 150 can access the first link 110 according theparameters 120 for prioritized access at an assigned or designated timeslot 112 for more predictable access (e.g., assigned access, scheduledaccess) to the first link 110. The parameters 120 can be assigned to orconfigured for the first link 110 by the wireless node 102 and thewireless device 150 can perform downlink operations, uplink operationsand/or peer-to-peer transmissions using the parameters 120 to support ormaintain a desired or targeted quality of service for latency sensitiveapplications 152 provided by (e.g., hosted, executing at) the wirelessdevice 150. In some embodiments, the latency sensitive parameters orfirst parameters 120 for latency sensitive applications 152 can be moreaggressive than regular or second parameters 120 (e.g., defaultparameters) for regular access to one or more other links 110.

In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can access the link 110 at anassigned or determined time slot 112 and according to parameters 120 ofthe respective link 110. The wireless device 150 can receive, from thewireless node 102, an indication 128 of parameters 120 for a pluralityof time slots 112 for the set of WLAN links 110 available forprioritized access. The wireless device 150 can access the first link110 during a first time slot 112 of the plurality of time slots 112according to the first plurality of parameters 120. In some embodiments,the wireless device 150 can access the first time slot 112 using a timerfunction and/or back-off timer parameters 120 configured to enable orprovide prioritized access to the assigned time slot 112 of the link110. In some embodiments, the timer can indicate a time period or timeframe when access to the assigned time slot 112 of the link 110 isrestricted to the wireless device 150. The time slot 112 can include atime boundary indicating a time period (e.g., X amount of time beforeprioritized access begins, X amount of time after prioritized accessbegins or ends) when regular traffic or traffic associated with anotherwireless device 150 is prevented or not allowed to access the assignedtime slot 112 of the link 110. Thus, the assigned time slot 112 of thelink 110 can be assigned to the wireless device 150 to avoid, prevent orreduce the chances of a collision with another wireless device 150attempting to access the link 110 at the assigned time slot 112.

At operation 414, and in some embodiments, the link 110 can bemonitored. The wireless node 102 can monitor the first link 110 or theset of links 110 configured to support latency sensitive traffic. Insome embodiments, the wireless node 102 can monitor network loadinformation over a plurality of links 110 associated with or used by oneor more wireless devices 150 that supports latency sensitive links 110and make the determination to maintain a link 110 to a wireless device150, disable a wireless link 110 to a wireless device 150 or transfertraffic associated with a wireless device 150 from a first link 110 to asecond link 110. The wireless node 102 can detect or determine one ormore traffic conditions 124 of the links 110. The traffic conditions 124can include, but are not limited to, an amount of traffic on the link110, a type of traffic on the link 110, a network load value (e.g.,total traffic on a link or a set of latency sensitive links) for each ofthe set of links configured for latency sensitive applications 152,and/or a network load value for each of the plurality of links 110(e.g., total traffic on all links) provided by the wireless node 102.The wireless node 102 can continuously monitor the traffic conditions124 of one or more links 110 and can dynamically determine the trafficconditions 124 for one or more links 110.

At operation 416, and in some embodiments, a traffic condition 124 canbe compared to a threshold 125. The threshold 125 can include a limit,traffic load limit and/or value indicating a condition of a link 110.The threshold 125 can include a set of one or more values or range ofvalues indicating an acceptable range. The wireless node 102 can assigna threshold 125 to a link 110 or to the set of links configured tosupport latency sensitive applications 152, for example, to maintain anintended or desired quality of service through the respective links 110.In some embodiments, if a traffic condition 124 of a link 110 exceedsthe threshold 125 for the link 110 or a threshold 125 for the set oflatency sensitive links 110, the wireless node 102 can determine thatthe respective link 110 is congested, approaching a condition ofcongestion and/or is experiencing a reduced quality of service, forexample, for a user of the wireless device 150.

The wireless node 102 can compare the traffic condition 124 of the link110 to the threshold 125. If the traffic condition 124 of the link 110is less than the threshold 125 or within the threshold range 125, themethod 400 can proceed or return to (414) and the wireless node 102 cancontinue monitoring the traffic conditions 124 of the link 110. If thetraffic condition 124 of the link 110 is greater than the threshold 125or outside the threshold range 125, the method 400 can move/proceed to(418).

At operation 418, and in some embodiments, link steering can beperformed. The wireless node 102 can steer or transfer communications ortraffic (e.g., perform link steering) associated with one or morewireless devices to particular links 110 to maintain a desired ortargeted quality of service for one or more latency sensitive links 110.In some embodiments, after a link 110 is established between thewireless node 102 and a wireless device 150, the wireless node 102continuously monitors the traffic conditions 124 (e.g., traffic load)over the network 160 and/or the plurality of links 110 associated withthe wireless node 102. The wireless node 102 can invoke or perform linksteering techniques to provide and maintain the advertised quality ofservice for the plurality of links 110. For example, link steering canbe performed between a current operating link 110 and a new operatinglink 110 (e.g., second link 110, additional link 110) and the wirelessnode 102 can determine to steer or send traffic associated with aparticular wireless device 150 based in part on the traffic conditions124 (e.g., traffic load) associated with the wireless device 150, thecurrent operating link 110 and/or the new operating link 110.

The wireless node 102 can direct a portion or all traffic ofcommunications associated with the wireless device 150 to a second link110 or new operating link 110. In some embodiments, the wireless node102 can direct or transfer selected traffic streams from the wirelessdevice 150 and/or management frames from the wireless device to a secondlink 110 or new operating link 110. The second link 110 may include anexisting link 110 that the wireless device 150 is accessing, has accessto or previously requested access to. The new operating link 110 caninclude a new link 110 established in response to the overloadcondition, a new link 110 the wireless device 150 is provided access toand/or an existing link 110 the wireless device 150 is provided accessto. The amount of traffic or the size of the portion of traffic to betransferred can be determined based in part on the amount of traffic onthe first link 110 and/or the amount the traffic on the first link 110exceeds the threshold 125. For example, the wireless node 102 cantransfer a portion of the traffic from one link 110 to a second oradditional link 110 to reduce the traffic level on the first link 110below the threshold 125 and/or balance the traffic associated with thewireless device 150 between the first link 110 and the second link 110such that the traffic on both the first link 110 and the second link 110is less than the threshold 25. In some embodiments, the selected portionof traffic and communications can include selected traffic streamsand/or management frames.

The wireless node 102 can determine that the traffic condition 124 of alink 110 has exceeded the threshold 125 and determine what other links110 the respective wireless device 150 accessing the first link 110 isalso accessing or is assigned. For example, the wireless node 102 candetermine if the wireless device 150 is accessing multiple links 110 orhas been given access to multiple links 110. In some embodiments, thewireless node 102 can determine a condition of network traffic 124 ofthe set of WLAN links 110 and determine that/whether the wireless device150 is accessing the first link 110 and a second link 110 of the set ofWLAN links 110. In some embodiments, the wireless node 102 can determineto transfer at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device 150from the first link 110 to the second link 110, responsive todetermining that the wireless device 150 is accessing the second link110 (or not accessing the second link 110). In some embodiments, thewireless node 102 can determine not to transfer at least a portion oftraffic of the wireless device 150 from the first link 110 to the secondlink 110, responsive to determining that the wireless device isaccessing the second link 110. For example, the wireless node 102 candetermine that the wireless device 150 is already accessing multiplelinks 110 (e.g., first and second links 110) and the wireless 102 doesnot need to select a new or different operating link 110.

At operation 420, and in some embodiments, a second or additional link110 can be accessed. The wireless device 150 can access the second link110 of the set of WLAN links 110 or a new operating link 110 based inpart on an indication, instruction or command from the wireless node102. The wireless device 150 can transfer a portion of the traffic fromthe first link 110 or all of the traffic to the second link 110 (or newoperating link 110) based in part on an indication, instruction orcommand from the wireless node 102. In some embodiments, the portion caninclude an amount, percentage, identified traffic streams and/ormanagement frames. The wireless device 150 can access the second or newlink 110 according to the capabilities 118 advertised for the link 110to support one or more high latency applications 152 provided by thewireless device 150. The wireless device 150 can access the second ornew link 110 using the parameters 120 and/or latency requirements 122indicated for the link 110. In some embodiments, the wireless device 150can perform downlink operations, uplink operations and/or peer-to-peertransmissions using the second or new link 110 and according to theparameters 120 of the first or second/new link 110. The wireless device150 can transmit, receive and/or communicate traffic associated withAR/VR type applications or latency sensitive applications using thesecond or new link 110.

In some embodiments, the wireless device 150 can receive, from thewireless node 102, an indication 128 of a second link 110 to transfer atleast a portion of traffic of the wireless device 150, from the firstlink 110 to the second link 110. The indication can be responsive to atraffic condition 124 (e.g., a condition of network traffic) associatedwith the wireless node 102 and/or wireless device 150. In someembodiments, the indication can be transmitted by the wireless node 102responsive to the traffic condition 124 of the first link 110 exceedingthe threshold 125. The wireless device 150 can access, responsive to theindication 128, the second link 110 to communicate the at least aportion of the traffic of the wireless device 150.

Various operations described herein can be implemented on computersystems. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a representative computingsystem 514 usable to implement the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the wireless node 102, wireless device 150 or both of FIG.1 are implemented by the computing system 514. Computing system 514 canbe implemented, for example, as a consumer device such as a smartphone,other mobile phone, tablet computer, wearable computing device (e.g.,smart watch, eyeglasses, head wearable display), desktop computer,laptop computer, or implemented with distributed computing devices. Thecomputing system 514 can be implemented to provide VR, AR, MRexperience. In some embodiments, the computing system 514 can includeconventional computer components such as processors 516, storage device518, network interface 520, user input device 522, and user outputdevice 524.

Network interface 520 can provide a connection to a wide area network(e.g., the Internet) to which WAN interface of a remote server system isalso connected. Network interface 520 can include a wired interface(e.g., Ethernet) and/or a wireless interface implementing various RFdata communication standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular datanetwork standards (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, 60 GHz, LTE, etc.).

User input device 522 can include any device (or devices) via which auser can provide signals to computing system 514; computing system 514can interpret the signals as indicative of particular user requests orinformation. User input device 522 can include any or all of a keyboard,touch pad, touch screen, mouse or other pointing device, scroll wheel,click wheel, dial, button, switch, keypad, microphone, sensors (e.g., amotion sensor, an eye tracking sensor, etc.), and so on.

User output device 524 can include any device via which computing system514 can provide information to a user. For example, user output device524 can include a display to display images generated by or delivered tocomputing system 514. The display can incorporate various imagegeneration technologies, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD),light-emitting diode (LED) including organic light-emitting diodes(OLED), projection system, cathode ray tube (CRT), or the like, togetherwith supporting electronics (e.g., digital-to-analog oranalog-to-digital converters, signal processors, or the like). A devicesuch as a touchscreen that function as both input and output device canbe used. Output devices 524 can be provided in addition to or instead ofa display. Examples include indicator lights, speakers, tactile“display” devices, printers, and so on.

Some implementations include electronic components, such asmicroprocessors, storage and memory that store computer programinstructions in a computer readable storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer readable medium). Many of the features described in thisspecification can be implemented as processes that are specified as aset of program instructions encoded on a computer readable storagemedium. When these program instructions are executed by one or moreprocessors, they cause the processors to perform various operationindicated in the program instructions. Examples of program instructionsor computer code include machine code, such as is produced by acompiler, and files including higher-level code that are executed by acomputer, an electronic component, or a microprocessor using aninterpreter. Through suitable programming, processor 516 can providevarious functionality for computing system 514, including any of thefunctionality described herein as being performed by a server or client,or other functionality associated with message management services.

It will be appreciated that computing system 514 is illustrative andthat variations and modifications are possible. Computer systems used inconnection with the present disclosure can have other capabilities notspecifically described here. Further, while computing system 514 isdescribed with reference to particular blocks, it is to be understoodthat these blocks are defined for convenience of description and are notintended to imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts.For instance, different blocks can be located in the same facility, inthe same server rack, or on the same motherboard. Further, the blocksneed not correspond to physically distinct components. Blocks can beconfigured to perform various operations, e.g., by programming aprocessor or providing appropriate control circuitry, and various blocksmight or might not be reconfigurable depending on how the initialconfiguration is obtained. Implementations of the present disclosure canbe realized in a variety of apparatus including electronic devicesimplemented using any combination of circuitry and software.

Having now described some illustrative implementations, it is apparentthat the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having beenpresented by way of example. In particular, although many of theexamples presented herein involve specific combinations of method actsor system elements, those acts and those elements can be combined inother ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements andfeatures discussed in connection with one implementation are notintended to be excluded from a similar role in other implementations orimplementations.

The hardware and data processing components used to implement thevarious processes, operations, illustrative logics, logical blocks,modules and circuits described in connection with the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purposesingle- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A generalpurpose processor may be a microprocessor, or, any conventionalprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processoralso may be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as acombination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, particularprocesses and methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific toa given function. The memory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device,etc.) may include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory,hard disk storage, etc.) for storing data and/or computer code forcompleting or facilitating the various processes, layers and modulesdescribed in the present disclosure. The memory may be or includevolatile memory or non-volatile memory, and may include databasecomponents, object code components, script components, or any other typeof information structure for supporting the various activities andinformation structures described in the present disclosure. According toan exemplary embodiment, the memory is communicably connected to theprocessor via a processing circuit and includes computer code forexecuting (e.g., by the processing circuit and/or the processor) the oneor more processes described herein.

The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and programproducts on any machine-readable media for accomplishing variousoperations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implementedusing existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computerprocessor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or anotherpurpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure include program products comprising machine-readablemedia for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example,such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, orother optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions ordata structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Combinationsof the above are also included within the scope of machine-readablemedia. Machine-executable instructions include, for example,instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform acertain function or group of functions.

The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” “comprising” “having” “containing” “involving”“characterized by” “characterized in that” and variations thereofherein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalentsthereof, and additional items, as well as alternate implementationsconsisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In oneimplementation, the systems and methods described herein consist of one,each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements,acts, or components.

Any references to implementations or elements or acts of the systems andmethods herein referred to in the singular can also embraceimplementations including a plurality of these elements, and anyreferences in plural to any implementation or element or act herein canalso embrace implementations including only a single element. Referencesin the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presentlydisclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements tosingle or plural configurations. References to any act or element beingbased on any information, act or element can include implementationswhere the act or element is based at least in part on any information,act, or element.

Any implementation disclosed herein can be combined with any otherimplementation or embodiment, and references to “an implementation,”“some implementations,” “one implementation” or the like are notnecessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the implementation can be included in at least one implementationor embodiment. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily allreferring to the same implementation. Any implementation can be combinedwith any other implementation, inclusively or exclusively, in any mannerconsistent with the aspects and implementations disclosed herein.

Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or anyclaim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have beenincluded to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detaileddescription, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs northeir absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claimelements.

Systems and methods described herein may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the characteristics thereof. References to“approximately,” “about” “substantially” or other terms of degreeinclude variations of +/−10% from the given measurement, unit, or rangeunless explicitly indicated otherwise. Coupled elements can beelectrically, mechanically, or physically coupled with one anotherdirectly or with intervening elements. Scope of the systems and methodsdescribed herein is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather thanthe foregoing description, and changes that come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are embraced therein.

The term “coupled” and variations thereof includes the joining of twomembers directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may bestationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable orreleasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupleddirectly with or to each other, with the two members coupled with eachother using a separate intervening member and any additionalintermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two memberscoupled with each other using an intervening member that is integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If“coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term(e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” providedabove is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term(e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without anyseparate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition thanthe generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may bemechanical, electrical, or fluidic.

References to “or” can be construed as inclusive so that any termsdescribed using “or” can indicate any of a single, more than one, andall of the described terms. A reference to “at least one of” ‘A’ and ‘B’can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, as well as both ‘A’ and ‘B’. Suchreferences used in conjunction with “comprising” or other openterminology can include additional items.

Modifications of described elements and acts such as variations insizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the variouselements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials,colors, orientations can occur without materially departing from theteachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. Forexample, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed ofmultiple parts or elements, the position of elements can be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements orpositions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications,changes and omissions can also be made in the design, operatingconditions and arrangement of the disclosed elements and operationswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of variouselements in the FIGURES. The orientation of various elements may differaccording to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations areintended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a wireless device from a wireless node, an advertisement message indicating: a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) links that support one or more defined latency requirements, and capabilities of respective links of the set of WLAN links; accessing, by the wireless device, a first link of the set of WLAN links according to capabilities of the first link indicated by the advertisement message; receiving, by the wireless device from the wireless node, an indication of a second link of the set of WLAN links, to which to transfer at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device, from the first link; and accessing, by the wireless device responsive to the indication, the second link to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wireless device, according to capabilities of the second link indicated by the advertisement message.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capabilities of a respective link include at least one of: latency sensitive capabilities, enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameters, inter-frame spacing parameters, contention window parameters, or a parameter for a timer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement message includes at least one of: a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is responsive to a condition of network traffic associated with the wireless node.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is responsive to a condition that a network load value of the first link is greater than a threshold.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second link is accessed to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wireless device such that the network load value of the first link is less than the threshold and a network load value of the second link is less than the threshold.
 7. A wireless device comprising: one or more processors configured to: receive, via a receiver from a wireless node, an advertisement message indicating: a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) links that support one or more defined latency requirements, and capabilities of respective links of the set of WLAN links; access a first link of the set of WLAN links according to capabilities of the first link indicated by the advertisement message; receive, via the receiver from the wireless node, an indication of a second link of the set of WLAN links, to which to transfer at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device, from the first link; and access, responsive to the indication, the second link to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wireless device, according to capabilities of the second link indicated by the advertisement message.
 8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the capabilities of a respective link include at least one of: latency sensitive capabilities, enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameters, inter-frame spacing parameters, contention window parameters, or a parameter for a timer.
 9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the advertisement message includes at least one of: a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.
 10. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the indication is responsive to a condition of network traffic associated with the wireless node.
 11. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the indication is responsive to a condition that a network load value of the first link is greater than a threshold.
 12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are configured to access the second link to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wireless device such that the network load value of the first link is less than the threshold and a network load value of the second link is less than the threshold.
 13. A method comprising: transmitting, by a wireless node to a wireless device, an advertisement message indicating: a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) links that support one or more defined latency requirements, and capabilities of respective links of the set of WLAN links, wherein the wireless device accesses, responsive to the advertisement message, a first link of the set of WLAN links according to capabilities of the first link indicated by the advertisement message; and responsive to a condition of network traffic associated with the wireless node, transmitting, by the wireless node to the wireless device, an indication of a second link of the set of WLAN links, to which to transfer at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device, from the first link, wherein the wireless device accesses, responsive to the indication, the second link to communicate the at least a portion of the traffic of the wireless device, according to capabilities of the second link indicated by the advertisement message.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the capabilities of a respective link include at least one of: latency sensitive capabilities, enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameters, inter-frame spacing parameters, contention window parameters, or a parameter for a timer.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisement message includes at least one of: a beacon signal, a probe response or an action frame.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining, by the wireless node, whether a network load value of the first link exceeds a threshold, wherein responsive to determining that the network load value of the first link exceeds the threshold, the indication of the second link is transmitted to the wireless device.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining, by the wireless node, an amount of the at least a portion of traffic of the wireless device such that the network load value of the first link is less than the threshold and a network load value of the second link is less than the threshold.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the condition includes at least one of an amount of traffic on a link, a type of traffic on a link, a network load value for a link, or a network load value for the set of WLAN links.
 19. The method of claim 13, further comprising: monitoring one or more links of the set of WLAN links to determine the condition of network traffic associated with the wireless node.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the one or more links of the set of WLAN links comprises: monitoring network load information over the one or more links that are associated with or used by the wireless device; and determining to maintain a link to the wireless device, disable a link to the wireless device, or transfer traffic associated with the wireless device from one link to another link. 